Floor lighting assembly

ABSTRACT

A floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet has a top side, a bottom side, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources are arranged in a row and are configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above the top side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that is received therein through the edge for emitting the light through the top side of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/563,360, filed Sep. 6, 2019, and the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to illuminatingthe floors of interior spaces, such as, for example, passenger cabinswithin commercial aircraft, and more particularly to luminous compositesheets.

BACKGROUND

Aisles in dimly lit interior spaces of commercial buildings and vehiclesmay be illuminated to provide wayfinding. These interior spaces may beintentionally dim to allow passengers to sleep at night, to watchmovies, and the like. When the passenger cabins of commercial passengeraircraft, buses, train cars, and the like are dim, the aisles may beilluminated to enable passengers to find their assigned seats. Lightingthe aisles also enables both passengers and employees walking throughthe aisles to see objects, such as feet, purses, backpacks, and thelike, within the aisles that could pose tripping hazards if unnoticed.

Known systems for illuminating aisles may be complex, inefficient,expensive, and/or excessively bright. For example, one known systeminstalls downward-facing lights on passenger seats adjacent to the aisleto illuminate the aisle. But, integrating the lights, circuitry, andpower components for powering the lights into the seats may be complexand expensive. Another known system is to install LED light stripsdirectly on the floor. The LEDs in the light strips are directly visibleand the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs may disturb somepassengers that are trying to sleep, watch a movie, or the like.Furthermore, the light strips may form raised ridges along the floor,even when placed underneath a carpet, and the raised ridges mayinterfere with walking down the aisle and/or pushing a cart down theaisle.

SUMMARY

A need exists for a lighting assembly that can efficiently andeffectively illuminate an aisle within a dim interior space withoutdisturbing passengers due to the intensity of the light or causingbumps, ridges, or grooves along the floor.

With those needs in mind, certain embodiments of the present disclosureprovide a floor lighting assembly, such as within an interior cabin of avehicle. The floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheetand a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet includes alight guide film and a plurality of light sources. The light guide filmhas a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, and an edgeextending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources arearranged in a row at or proximate to the edge of the light guide film.The light sources are configured to emit light into the light guide filmthrough the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above thetop side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includesa backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backingstructure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect thelight that is received therein through the edge for emitting the lightthrough the top side of the light guide film such that some of the lightis transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method ofproducing a floor lighting assembly. The method includes providing alight guide film having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side,and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The methodincludes assembling a plurality of light sources in a row at orproximate to the edge of the light guide film. The light sources arespaced apart along a length of the light guide film and are oriented toemit light into the light guide film through the edge. The method alsoincludes installing a light transmissive carpet above the top side ofthe light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backingstructure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backingstructure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect thelight that is received therein through the edge for emitting the lightthrough the top side of the light guide film such that some of the lightis transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a floor lightingassembly that includes a luminous composite sheet and a lighttransmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet includes a light guidefilm, a substrate, a plurality of light sources, and a laminate coating.The light guide film has a top side, a bottom side opposite the topside, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. Thesubstrate is positioned adjacent to the edge of the light guide film.The light sources are mounted on the substrate and arranged in a rowalong the edge of the light guide film. The light sources are configuredto emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The laminatecoating covers a top side of the substrate and the top side of the lightguide film. A top surface of the laminate coating is planar. The lighttransmissive carpet is disposed on the top surface of the laminatecoating. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure anda pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The lightguide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that isreceived therein through the edge for emitting the light through the topside of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmittedthrough the laminate coating and the light transmissive carpet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a floor lighting assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a luminous composite sheet of thefloor lighting assembly according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the floor lighting assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an aisle that incorporates the floor lightingassembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of producing a floor lightingassembly for an aisle within an interior space of a vehicle or buildingaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the floor lightingassembly according to an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. As used herein, an element or step recitedin the singular and preceded by the word “a” or “an” should beunderstood as not necessarily excluding the plural of the elements orsteps. Further, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to beinterpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments thatalso incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitlystated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an elementor a plurality of elements having a particular property may includeadditional elements not having that property.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a scalable floorlighting assembly for use within interior spaces, such as commercialbuildings and commercial vehicles. Commercial buildings that may utilizethe floor lighting assembly include movie theaters, office buildings,factories, and the like. Commercial vehicles that may utilize the floorlighting assembly include aircraft, trains, buses, marine vessels, andthe like. The floor lighting assembly may be flexible to enable rollingthe lighting assembly on a spool. The lighting assembly may be rollableand unrollable to provide a desired length of the floor lightingassembly, such that a single discrete lighting assembly may be able tocontinuously extend for an entire length of an aisle. Optionally,multiple panels or lengths of the lighting assembly may be mechanicallyand/or electrically connected together to enlarge the area of the floorlighting assembly along the aisle. An aisle as referred to herein is apath or walkway. The aisle may be disposed between two sections ofseats, where each section includes multiple rows of seats, such as incommercial passenger vehicles and movie theaters. The aisles referred toherein may also include walkways that are not disposed between sectionsof seats, such as aisles through cubicles of an office.

The floor lighting assembly according to the embodiments disclosedherein create lighting effects which cause a light transmissive carpetto have a diffuse glow. For example, some light is emitted through thecarpet, but the intensity of the light is sufficiently low to avoiddisturbing people in the dimly-lit space who are sleeping, watching amovie, or the like. However, the light through the carpet issufficiently bright and is spread over a sufficiently large area of theaisle that any objects disposed on the carpet, such as bags, feet, andthe like, may be sufficiently illuminated to enable a person walkingalong the aisle to detect the presence of the objects and avoid trippingor stepping on the objects. The lighting assembly is configured tospread and diffuse light laterally such that an area of the carpeteffectively glows with controlled light properties (e.g., intensity,wavelength, and the like). Objects on the carpet may be viewed from aperson walking along the aisle in the dimly-lit space as dark shapes orshadows surrounded by glowing areas of the carpet.

The floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and alight transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet is disposedunderneath the light transmissive carpet such that the carpet definesthe user-facing side of the floor lighting assembly. The luminouscomposite sheet generates light and the light transmissive carpet isconfigured to allow at least some light to penetrate through the carpetto create the lighting effects described above. Optionally, the luminouscomposite sheet may be adhered to the light transmissive carpet prior toinstallation along an aisle. For example, the luminous composite sheetmay define a backing layer of the light transmissive carpet.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a floor lighting assembly 100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The floor lightingassembly 100 includes a luminous composite sheet 102 and a lighttransmissive carpet 104. The floor lighting assembly 100 is configuredto be installed within an interior space of a building or vehicle, suchas an aircraft. Optionally, the luminous composite sheet 102 (alsoreferred to herein as composite sheet 102) may be elongated and rolledup on a spool prior to installation within the interior space, such thatthe composite sheet 102 is installed in part by unrolling a length ofthe composite sheet 102. The composite sheet 102 may be mechanicallyand/or electrically couplable to other composite sheets 102 to provide amodular floor lighting assembly 100 along a greater area of the interiorspace.

The composite sheet 102 is electrically connected to an electrical powersource 106 that supplies electrical power (e.g., electric current) forpowering the composite sheet 102 to generate light. Optionally, theelectrical power source 106 may be disposed on the composite sheet 102.For example, the power source 106 may include or represent an electricalstorage device, such as one or more batteries, capacitors, or the like.Optionally, the composite sheet 102 may include one or morepiezoelectric elements that are configured to charge the electricalstorage device based on compressive forces exerted on the piezoelectricelements as people walk on the floor lighting assembly 100. In anotherexample, the power source 106 may be a remote power source, such as apower outlet installed within the building or vehicle. The compositesheet 102 may include an electrical connector that couples directly orindirectly to the power outlet. For example, a single remote electricalpower source 106, such as a single power outlet, may be utilized toelectrically power a series of multiple composite sheets 102 that areconnected to one another in a daisy chain arrangement. The compositesheet 102 may be connected to the power source 106 via a conductivepathway, such as a wire or a metal trace.

The composite sheet 102 may also be operably connected to a controller108. The controller 108 may be configured to control the operation oflight sources 202 (shown in FIG. 2) of the composite sheet 102. Forexample, the controller 108 may control characteristics or properties ofthe light emitted by the light sources 202, such as wavelength (e.g.,color), intensity, activation and deactivation of each of the lightsources 202, and the like. The controller 108 includes one or moreprocessors. The controller 108 may be disposed on the composite sheet102 or remote from the composite sheet 102 and connected to thecomposite sheet 102 via a wired or wireless communication link. Thecontroller 108 is configured to operate based on designated sets ofinstructions. The controller 108 is configured to execute a set ofinstructions stored in one or more data storage units or elements (suchas one or more memories included within or connected to the controller108). The set of instructions may include various commands that instructthe controller 108 as a processing machine to perform specificoperations. The set of instructions may be in the form of one or moresoftware programs. The software may be in various forms such as systemsoftware or application software. Further, the software may be in theform of a collection of separate programs, a program subset within alarger program, or a portion of a program. The software may also includemodular programming in the form of object-oriented programming. Theprocessing of input data by the processing machine may be in response touser commands, or in response to results of previous processing, or inresponse to a request made by another processing machine. The controller108 may be configured to control the light sources 202 of multipledifferent composite sheets 102, or the floor lighting assembly 100 mayinclude multiple controllers 108 that are configured to control thelight sources 202 of the different composite sheets 102.

The light transmitting carpet 104 (also referred to herein as carpet104) is disposed on a user-facing side 110 of the composite sheet 102.The composite sheet 102 is configured to emit light from the user-facingside 110, and at least some of that light penetrates through the carpet104 for providing the lighting effects to people above a user-facingside 112 of the carpet 104. For example, the lighting effect may make anarea of the carpet 104 appear to have a relatively uniform glow.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the luminous composite sheet 102of the floor lighting assembly 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The composite sheet 102 in the illustratedembodiment includes a plurality of light sources 202, a light guide film204, a substrate 206, and a plurality of pressure sensors 208. Theschematic illustration shown in FIG. 2 may generally represent atop-down view of the user-facing side 110 shown in FIG. 1 or a bottom-upview of the composite sheet 102, although the illustration is merely toindicate potential arrangements of components rather than depict theactual appearance of the composite sheet 102.

The light guide film 204 is a thin, flat structure that is translucentor transparent. The light guide film 204 is configured to receive lightinto an interior of the film 204 and redirect and emit the light in acontrolled manner as described herein. The light guide film 204 includesa first edge 210, a second edge 212, a third edge 214, and a fourth edge216. The second edge 212 is opposite the first edge 210. The third andfourth edges 214, 216 both extend from the first edge 210 to the secondedge 212. The fourth edge 216 is opposite the third edge 214. Each ofthe first and second edges 210, 212 extend a length from the third edge214 to the fourth edge 216. In the illustrated embodiment, the lightguide film 204 is rectangular, and the first and second edges 210, 212are longer than the third and fourth edges 214, 216. In an alternativeembodiment, the first and second edges 210, 212 may be shorter than, orthe same length as, the third and fourth edges 214, 216.

The light sources 202 are arranged in a row 218 at or proximate to thefirst edge 210 of the light guide film 204. The first edge 210 of thelight guide film 204 may also be referred to herein simply as the edge210. The light sources 202 are spaced apart from each other along thelength of the edge 210. The light sources 202 may be evenly spaced apartsuch that the pitch or spacing between adjacent light sources 202 isuniform or constant along the length of the row 218. The light sources202 are not mounted to the light guide film 204, but rather are mountedto the substrate 206. The light sources 202 may be light emitting diodes(LEDs), such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or LEDs made frominorganic semiconductor materials.

The substrate 206 is adjacent to the edge 210 and is elongated to extendalong the length of the edge 210. In the illustrated embodiment, thesubstrate 206 has the same length as the edge 210 and has a narrowerwidth than the light guide film 204. For example, the substrate 206 maybe a narrow strip of a relatively rigid or flexible substrate. The lightsources 202 are mounted to the substrate 206 along an edge 220 of thesubstrate 206 that faces the edge 210 of the light guide film 204. Theedge 220 of the substrate 206 is also referred to herein as a light edge220. The light edge 220 and the edge 210 define an interface 222 betweenthe substrate 206 and the light guide film 204. The light edge 220 mayabut the edge 210 at the interface 222 or, alternatively, may be spacedapart from each other by a thin layer of light transmissive material,such as a clear epoxy. As described herein, the light sources 202 areconfigured to emit light across the interface 222 such that the lightenters the interior of the light guide film 204 through the edge 210.

In one or more embodiments, the substrate 206 is secured in a fixedposition relative to the light guide film 204 to maintain thepositioning of the substrate 206 to the light guide film 204 as shown inFIG. 2. For example, the substrate 206 and the light guide film 204 maybe secured together via an application of a laminate coating 302 (shownin FIG. 3). The laminate coating 302 may represent a polymer that coversor encapsulates the substrate 206 and light guide film 204 in a fluidstate and subsequently hardens to hold the positioning of the substrate206 and film 204. Alternatively, the laminate coating 302 may representa heat shrink material. Optionally, the substrate 206 may be fastened tothe light guide film 204 via one or more fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws,clamps, or the like) and/or adhered to the light guide film 204 via anadhesive at or across the interface 222.

The pressure sensors 208 are spaced apart along the length of the edge210. The pressure sensors 208 may be arranged in at least one row 230.In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure sensors 208 are arranged ina single row 230 that is at or proximate to a centerline of the lightguide film 204 between the first and second edges 210, 212. The pressuresensors 208 are configured to generate pressure signals based oncompressive forces experienced by the pressure sensors 208. For example,as a weighted body steps or lands on the composite sheet 102, one ormore of the pressure sensors 208 proximate to the point of impact of thebody on the composite sheet 102 may generate a pressure signal thatindicates an amount of force experienced by the respective pressuresensors 208 attributable to the body. The pressure sensors 208 mayinclude or represent piezoelectric elements that generate or modify anelectrical resistance proportional to an amount of force experienced.The pressure sensors 208 are operably coupled to the controller 108(shown in FIG. 1) via a wired or wireless communication link. In analternative embodiment, the pressure sensors 208 may be arranged inmultiple parallel rows 230 instead of the single row 230 down the centerof the light guide film 204.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the floor lighting assembly 100according to an embodiment. The light transmissive carpet 104 isdisposed on the user-facing side 110 of the composite sheet 102. FIG. 3shows one of the light sources 202 emitting a ray or beam 300 of lightinto the light guide film 204 through the edge 210 of the light guidefilm 204. The light guide film 204 is configured to redirect the beam300 to emit the beam 300 towards the light transmissive carpet 104 forilluminating the carpet 104, as described herein.

The illustrated view shows both the first edge 210 and the second edge212 of the light guide film 204 because the floor lighting assembly 100is shortened in the lateral or width direction as indicated by the cutlines 301. The light guide film 204 has a top side 304 and a bottom side306 opposite the top side 304. The first and second edges 210, 212 bothextend from the top side 304 to the bottom side 306. The dimensions ofthe light guide film 204, such as thickness in a vertical dimension fromthe top side 304 to the bottom side 306, width from the first edge 210to the second edge 212, and/or length from the third edge 214 to thefourth edge 216 (both shown in FIG. 2) may be selected based onapplication-specific parameters. The light guide film 204 may berelatively thin such that the length and width is significantly greaterthan the thickness in the vertical dimension. In a non-limiting example,the light guide film 204 may have a thickness less than 1 inch, such asless than 0.5 inches; the width between the first and second edges 210,212 may be greater than 3 feet (36 inches); and the length between thethird and fourth edges 214, 216 may be greater than 10 feet (120inches). Optionally, the light guide film 204 may be configured to berolled or folded into a smaller size when not installed. The light guidefilm 204 may be formed or cut into a desired shape and/or size. Thelight guide film 204 has a solid body that is light transmissive, suchas transparent or at least translucent, to enable light to propagatethrough the interior of the body via total internal reflection. Thelight guide film 204 may include one or more polymers.

The light guide film 204 is configured to receive light from the lightsources 202 into an interior of the light guide film 204 through thefirst edge 210, and to spread and redirect the light for emitting atleast some of that light through the top side 304. Therefore, the lightmay exit the light guide film 204 through an output surface (e.g., thetop side 304) that is orthogonal to the input surface (e.g., the firstedge 210) through which the light entered the light guide film 204. Thelight guide film 204 may have several structural and/or optical featuresfor redirecting the light and/or prohibiting the light from emittingthrough other surfaces. For example, a reflective layer 308 may bedisposed on the bottom side 306 and the second edge 212 of the lightguide film 204. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the reflective layer 308may also be disposed on the third and fourth edges 214, 216 of the lightguide film 204. Optionally, all exterior surface of the light guide film204 may be covered with the reflective layer 308 except for the firstedge 210 and the top side 304. The reflective layer 308 is configured toreflect light rays or beams that impinge on the reflective layer 308back into the interior of the light guide film 204. For example, thebeam 300 in FIG. 3 impinges upon the reflective layer 308 along thebottom side 306 and is reflected back towards the top side 304. Thereflective layer 308 may resemble a mirror. The reflective layer 308 maybe a single, unitary reflective sheet or film that bends around cornersof the light guide film 204, as shown in FIG. 3, or may include multiplereflective sheets or films such that the reflective sheet on the bottomside 306 may be discrete from the reflective sheet on the second edge212.

The light guide film 204 may include an array of deflection elements 312disposed therein. The deflection elements 312 are located within theinterior of the film 204 between the top side 304 and the bottom side306. Shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the deflection elements 312 areconfigured to redirect (e.g., spread, scatter, refract, reflect, or thelike) the light that propagates through the light guide film 204 suchthat at least some of the light impinges upon the top side 304 at asufficient incident angle to be emitted from the top side 304. Forexample, the deflection elements 312 may reduce the amount or percentageof the beams that merely reflect from the top side 304 back into thelight guide film 204 and increase the amount or percentage of beams thatrefract through the top side 304. The deflection elements 312 may berepeating shapes, such as conical depressions, that are formed ordefined within the light guide film 204. The deflection elements 312 maybe etched along the top side 304, as shown in FIG. 3, and/or the bottomside 306. Alternatively, the deflection elements 312 may be externalfeatures that are embedded within the light guide film 204 during theformation of the light guide film 204, such as a molding process.

The substrate 206 includes a top side 314. In one or more embodiments,the light sources 202 are disposed on the top side 314. The lightsources 202 align within the light guide film 204 between the top andbottom sides 304, 306. The light sources 202 are oriented to emit lightacross the interface 222 into the light guide film 204 through the edge210 of the light guide film 204. In at least one embodiment, thesubstrate 206 is flexible. For example, the substrate 206 may representor include a flexible circuit board, a polymer film, a fabric, or thelike. The flexible substrate 206 may enable the entire luminouscomposite sheet 102 to bend or roll for storage and transportation priorto installation. The light sources 202 are electrically connected tocircuit elements on the substrate 206. In a non-limiting example, thecircuit elements are conductive metal traces embedded along a flexiblecircuit board or film, and the light sources 202 may be soldered orotherwise electrically connected to the conductive metal traces. Inanother non-limiting example, the circuit elements may be conductivematerials such as inks that are printed (e.g., screen printed, inkjetprinted, atomized jet deposited, paste dispensed, or the like) on aplastic film or fabric. The light sources 202 are powered and controlledvia electric current through the circuit elements.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light sources 202 are right-angle, orside-emitting, LEDs. The top side 314 of the substrate 206 is orthogonal(e.g., perpendicular) to the edge 210 of the light guide film 204. Thelight source 202 is oriented to direct the emitted light in a generaldirection towards the edge 210. In an alternative embodiment, the lightsources may be a traditional, straight, or linear LEDs that are mountedto a surface of the substrate 206 that faces towards the light guidefilm 204, and the LEDs direct the emitted light generally towards thelight guide film 204.

In the illustrated embodiment, the laminate coating 302 covers the topside 314 of the substrate 206 and the top side 304 of the light guidefilm 204. The laminate coating 302 may fully encapsulate or envelop thesubstrate 206, the light sources 202, and the light guide film 204. Forexample, the laminate coating 302 may be thermoset to conform to theshape of the substrate 206, the light sources 202, and the light guidefilm 204. The laminate coating 302 may structurally secure the substrate206 to the light guide film 204. In an embodiment, a top surface 322 ofthe laminate coating 302 is specifically formed to be planar. Forexample, even when the top side 314 of the substrate 206 is offsetvertically from the top side 304 of the light guide film 204, as shownin FIG. 3, the laminate coating 302 is formed to have a planar topsurface 322, which defines the user-facing side 110 of the compositesheet 102. For example, the laminate coating 302 has a greater thicknessabove the substrate 206 than a thickness of the laminate coating 302above the light guide film 204. During assembly, the substrate 206 doesnot need to be accurately aligned to the light guide film 204 becauseslight misalignments can be alleviated by the laminate coating 302.

FIG. 3 shows one of the pressure sensors 208. The pressure sensor 208may be mounted to the light guide film 204 in order to achieve accurateforce measurements of impacts on the carpet 104. For example, the floorlighting assembly 100 may be arranged such that the carpet 104 and thelight guide film 204 are disposed within an aisle, and the substrate 206is disposed outside of the aisle. The substrate 206 may be located belowa passenger seat, for example. Mounting the pressure sensors 208 to thelight guide film 204 may place the sensors 208 closer to the points ofimpact than placing the sensors 208 on the substrate 206. In FIG. 3, thepressure sensor 208 is mounted above the top side 304 and is embedded orcovered by the laminate coating 302. Alternatively, the pressure sensor208 may be mounted underneath the reflective layer 308 below the bottomside 306.

The light transmissive carpet 104 is disposed on the top surface 322 ofthe laminate coating 302. The light transmissive carpet 104 includes abacking structure 330 and a pile 332 mounted to and extending from thebacking structure 330. The pile 332 may include strands of yarn, such asin tufts, loops, or knots. The backing structure 330 is light permeable.For example, the backing structure 330 may be translucent to enablelight to pass through the backing structure 330. In another example, thebacking structure 330 may be opaque and defines holes therethrough suchthat the holes allow light to pass through the backing structure 330.Optionally, at least some threads or fibers in the yarn of the pile 332may be unpigmented. The unpigmented fibers may be translucent and maytransmit light therethrough similar to a fiber optic wire. The carpet104 may be installed on the composite sheet 102 via an adhesive (notshown) that secures the top surface 322 of the laminate coating 302 tothe backing structure 330. As shown in FIG. 3, the light beam 300 thatis emitted through the top side 304 of the light guide film 204penetrates through the translucent laminate coating 302 and passesthrough the light transmissive carpet 104 to create a lighting effect onthe strands or fibers of the pile 332 which define the user-facing side112 of the carpet 104.

FIG. 4 illustrates an aisle 400 that incorporates the floor lightingassembly 100 according to an embodiment. The aisle 400 may be located inan interior space within a building or a vehicle. Some non-limitingexamples of such interior spaces include a passenger cabin of anaircraft, a passenger cabin of a train car, a bus, a movie theater, andan office space within an office building. When the interior space isdimly lit, such as during nighttime, the floor lighting assembly 100 maybe used to provide a diffuse glow along the aisle 400. The floorlighting assembly 100 may be configured to enable the entire aisle, 400,or at least a majority of the area of the aisle 400 to glow. The floorlighting assembly 100 may include multiple of the modules shown in FIG.2 mechanically and electrically connected together in a chain. Theillustration in FIG. 4 includes a series of marks 402 along a first edge404 of the aisle 400 representing positions of the light sources 202 ofthe lighting assembly 100. The marks 402 are merely included in FIG. 4for descriptive purposes and would not be actually present along thefirst edge 404 of the aisle 400. For example, the only portion of thefloor lighting assembly 100 that would be visible is the pile 332 of thelight transmissive carpet 104.

In at least one embodiment, the controller 108 (shown in FIG. 1) isconfigured to receive the pressure signals generated by the pressuresensors 208 (shown in FIG. 2). Based on the pressure signals, thecontroller 108 is configured to detect a presence of one or more bodieson the light transmissive carpet 104. The one or more bodies that aredetected may represent any weighted body, living or non-living, thatexerts force on one or more of the pressure sensors 208 in excess of adesignated threshold value. The bodies may be human, animal, orinanimate objects. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is a humanbody that is walking along the aisle 400, as indicated by the footprints406. In FIG. 4, the human is stepping (e.g., applying weight) on thecarpet 104 at a location 408 of the footprint 406A. Therefore, a force(F) is being exerted on the floor lighting assembly 100 at the location408. The controller 108 may detect the presence of the body at thelocation 408 based on pressure signals received from one or morepressure sensors 208 disposed proximate to the location 408 indicatingthat the force exceeds the designated threshold force. The threshold maybe set such that people weighing at least 35 pounds, for example,walking on the aisle 400 would exceed the threshold and trigger theillumination.

In response, the controller 108 is configured to control the lightsources 202 to illuminate an area 410 of the light transmissive carpet104 that is associated with the location 408. The area 410 is referredto as an occupied area 410 because the area is occupied by the detectedbody. The occupied area 410 may include and surround the location 408.The occupied area 410 may be illuminated by activating a preset numberof light sources 202 in both longitudinal directions from the location408. In a non-limiting example, the controller 108 may activate fivelight sources 202 on either side of the light source 202 that bestaligns with the detected location 408 of the body to illuminate theoccupied area 410. Illuminating the occupied areas 410 provides light toenable the person in the aisle 400 to see objects that may pose a hazardin the dim light.

The occupied area 410 associated with the detected presence of a bodymay be illuminated with a greater intensity than areas outside of theoccupied areas 410 (e.g., non-occupied areas). In one embodiment, thecontroller 108 may deactivate the light sources 202 as a default modeand only activate the light sources 202 that are used to illuminate theoccupied areas 410. Thus, only the light sources 202 used to illuminatethe occupied areas 410 may emit light at a given time. In anotherembodiment, the controller 108 may operate all of the light sources 202at a first intensity level as a default mode and may illuminate theoccupied areas 410 by controlling the relevant light sources 202 to emitlight at a second intensity level that is greater than the firstintensity level.

Optionally, the controller 108 may be configured to track the location408 of the presence of the one or more bodies over time based on thepressure signals. For example, the pressure signals may be stored atleast temporarily in a memory device that is accessible to thecontroller 108. Based on the successive locations of a detected body,the controller 108 may be configured to determine movementcharacteristics of the body, such as a direction of movement 412 of thebody relative to the light transmissive carpet 104, a speed of movementof the body, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, afterdetermining one or more movement characteristics, the controller 108 isconfigured to control the light sources 202 to illuminate an upcomingarea 414 of the light transmissive carpet 104 (e.g., aisle 400) in frontof the current occupied area 410 based on the direction of movement 412.As a result, the larger area of the light transmissive carpet 104 isilluminated in front of the current location 408 of the moving body thanthe area of the carpet 104 that is illuminate behind the location 408 toenable the person to see farther in front while moving along the aisle400.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart 500 of a method of producing a floor lightingassembly according to an embodiment. The floor lighting assemblyproduced by the method 500 may be installed within an interior space ofa vehicle or building, such as along an aisle or another walkway. Themethod 500 may produce the floor lighting assembly 100 shown in FIGS. 1through 4. The method 500 optionally may include more steps than shownin FIG. 5, fewer steps than shown in FIG. 5, different steps than shownin FIG. 5, and/or a different order of the steps than shown in FIG. 5.

At 502, a light guide film 204 is provided that has a top side 304, abottom side 306 opposite the top side, and an edge 210 extending fromthe top side 304 to the bottom side 306. The light guide film 204 isconfigured to receive and propagate light therein through internalreflection. At 504, light sources 202 are assembled in a row 218 at orproximate to the edge 210 of the light guide film 204. The light sources202 are spaced apart along a length of the light guide film 204 and areoriented to emit light into the light guide film 204 through the edge210. Optionally, the light sources 202 may be assembled by mounting thelight sources 202 along an edge 220 of a substrate 206 that ispositioned adjacent to the edge 210 of the light guide film 204. Thesubstrate 206 may be a flexible or rigid substrate.

At 506, a plurality of pressure sensors 208 and a controller 108 may beinstalled. The pressure sensors 208 are mounted to the light guide film204. The controller 108 is operably coupled to the pressure sensors 208and the light sources 202. The pressure sensors 208 may be spaced apartfrom each other along the length of the light guide film 204. At 508, areflective layer 308 may be applied on the bottom side 306, a secondedge 212, a third edge 214, and a fourth edge 216 of the light guidefilm 204 to reflect light that impinges thereon back into an interior ofthe light guide film 204 At 510, a laminate coating 302 is applied tocover a top side 314 of the substrate 206 and the top side 304 of thelight guide film 204. A top surface 322 of the laminate coating 302 maybe planar.

At 512, a light transmissive carpet 104 is installed on the laminatecoating 302, which is above the top side 304 of the light guide film204. The carpet 104 is installed on the top surface 322 of the laminatecoating 302. The light transmissive carpet 104 includes a backingstructure 330 and a pile 332 mounted to and extending from the backingstructure 330. The backing structure 330 may be made light permeable bydefining holes through the backing structure 330 and/or forming thebacking structure 330 to be translucent.

Once assembled and installed, the light guide film 204 is configured tospread and redirect the light that is received therein from the lightsources 202 such that at least some of the light is emitted through thetop side 304 of the light guide film 204. The emitted light may betransmitted through the light transmissive carpet 104 to illuminate thepile 332 of the carpet 104 for providing a diffuse glow, or anotherlighting effect. Optionally, the controller 108 may be configured todetect a presence of one or more bodies on the light transmissive carpet104 responsive to pressure signals generated by the pressure sensors208, and may control the light sources 202 to illuminate an occupiedarea 410 of the light transmissive carpet 104 that is associated with alocation 408 of the detected presence of the one or more bodies.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the floor lightingassembly 100 according to an alternative embodiment. The embodiment inFIG. 6 has a different substrate 606 than the substrate 206 shown inFIG. 3. The substrate 606 may define one or more recesses 616 along alight edge 620 that faces the light guide film 204. The light sources202 are mounted within the one or more recesses 616. For example, thesubstrate 606 may define a single recess 616 that extends for at least amajority of the length of the substrate 606 in which all of the lightsources 202 are disposed. Alternatively, the substrate 606 may define aplurality of individual pocket-like recesses 616 along the length, andeach light source 202 is disposed in a different one of the recesses616. The illustrated light source 202 is mounted to a bottom-facingsurface 618 of the substrate 606. The bottom-facing surface 618 isorthogonal (e.g., perpendicular) to the edge 210 of the light guide film204. The light source 202 in FIG. 6 is a right-angle or side-emittingLED as shown in FIG. 3.

The substrate 606 may include one or more shelves 622 or overhangs thatextend over the one or more recesses 616 to protect the light sources202 within the one or more recesses 616 from impact forces. The one ormore shelves 622 have a thickness extending from a top side 614 of thesubstrate 606 to the bottom-facing surface 618. Forces exerted on thetop side 614 of the substrate 606 from people walking on the carpet 104,rolling heavy items along the carpet 104, dropping items on the carpet104, or the like, may be at least partially absorbed and dissipated bythe shelves 622 to reduce the forces exerted on the light sources 202.In an alternative embodiment, the one or more recesses 616 are openalong the top side 614, and a thin cover sheet may be mounted above thetop side 614 of the substrate 606 to protect the light sources 202,similar to the one or more shelves 622. The cover sheet may be formed ofan impact resistant material.

As described above, embodiments of the present disclosure providesystems, assemblies, and methods for efficiently and effectivelyilluminating an aisle within a dim interior space without disturbingpeople due to the intensity of the light or causing bumps, ridges, orgrooves along the floor. The aisle is illuminated for safety andwayfinding, especially when the interior space is dimly lit or dark,because the illuminated carpet can indicate the presence of objects inthe aisle. The floor lighting assembly disclosed herein is efficientbecause the light sources may only be located along one or more edges ofthe light guide film instead of having an array of light sourcesthroughout the entire area of the light guide film. Therefore, the floorlighting assembly may desirably include only a limited number of lightsources for illuminating a relatively large area of light transmissivecarpet. Furthermore, the lighting effect does not disturb people thatmay be sleeping, reading, or watching a movie because the light isspread by the light guide film and diffused through the carpet, suchthat no direct light from the light sources is visible. The luminouscomposite sheet of the floor lighting assembly is designed to emit lightthrough a planar top (e.g., user-facing) surface, such that no bumps,grooves, or other irregularities are formed in the carpet that wouldindicate that presence of light sources and associated circuitry.

While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower,mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may be used todescribe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood thatsuch terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in thedrawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwisechanged, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa,horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.

As used herein, a structure, limitation, or element that is “configuredto” perform a task or operation is particularly structurally formed,constructed, or adapted in a manner corresponding to the task oroperation. For purposes of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, an objectthat is merely capable of being modified to perform the task oroperation is not “configured to” perform the task or operation as usedherein.

As used herein, a material or component described using the terms“transparent” or “translucent” means that light can be transmittedthrough the material and emitted from another side of the material. Theterm “transparent” indicates a greater amount of light transmittancethan the term “translucent,” such that a transparent material will haveless light distortion, diffusion, and/or attenuation than a translucentmaterial. In this disclosure, the use of the term “translucent” todescribe a material or component is not intended, unless explicitlystated, to exclude that the material may also be transparent. Forexample, a material or component described as “translucent” means thatthe material or component is at least translucent and may also be (butdoes not have to be) transparent.

It is to be understood that the processing or control devices describedherein, such as the controller 108, may represent circuits, circuitry,or portions thereof that may be implemented as hardware with associatedinstructions (e.g., software stored on a tangible and non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium, such as a computer hard drive, ROM,RAM, or the like) that perform the operations described herein. Thehardware may include state machine circuitry hardwired to perform thefunctions described herein. Optionally, the hardware may includeelectronic circuits that include and/or are connected to one or morelogic-based devices, such as microprocessors, processors, controllers,or the like. Optionally, the processing devices may represent processingcircuitry such as one or more of a field programmable gate array (FPGA),application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), microprocessor(s),and/or the like. The circuits in various examples may be configured toexecute one or more algorithms to perform functions described herein.The one or more algorithms may include aspects of examples disclosedherein, whether or not expressly identified in a flowchart or a method.

As used herein, the terms “software” and “firmware” are interchangeableand include any computer program stored in a data storage unit (forexample, one or more memories) for execution by a computer, includingRAM memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, and non-volatileRAM (NVRAM) memory. The above data storage unit types are exemplary onlyand are thus not limiting as to the types of memory usable for storageof a computer program.

As used herein, the term “controller,” “control unit,” “centralprocessing unit,” “CPU,” “computer,” or the like may include anyprocessor-based or microprocessor-based system including systems usingmicrocontrollers, reduced instruction set computers (RISC), applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), logic circuits, and any othercircuit or processor including hardware, software, or a combinationthereof capable of executing the functions described herein. Such areexemplary only and are thus not intended to limit in any way thedefinition and/or meaning of such terms.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-describedembodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination witheach other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the variousembodiments of the disclosure without departing from their scope. Whilethe dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended todefine the parameters of the various embodiments of the disclosure, theembodiments are by no means limiting and are example embodiments. Manyother embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The scope of the variousembodiments of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims,the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-Englishequivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are notwritten in means-plus-function format and are not intended to beinterpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claimlimitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statementof function void of further structure.

This written description uses examples to disclose the variousembodiments of the disclosure, including the best mode, and also toenable any person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the variousembodiments of the disclosure, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe various embodiments of the disclosure is defined by the claims, andmay include other examples that occur to those persons of ordinary skillin the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope ofthe claims if the examples have structural elements that do not differfrom the literal language of the claims, or if the examples includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral language of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A luminous composite sheet comprising: lightguide film that is at least translucent and has a top side, a bottomside opposite the top side, and an edge extending from the top side tothe bottom side; a substrate positioned adjacent to the edge of thelight guide film, the substrate holding a plurality of light sourcesspaced apart along a length of the edge of the light guide film andconfigured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge; anda laminate coating that is at least translucent, wherein the laminatecoating covers and mechanically contacts both a top side of thesubstrate and the top side of the light guide film, wherein the lightguide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that isreceived therein through the edge for emitting the light from the topside of the light guide film through the laminate coating.
 2. Theluminous composite sheet of claim 1, wherein a top surface of thelaminate coating is planar and is configured to receive a carpetthereon.
 3. The luminous composite sheet of claim 1, wherein thelaminate coating is thermoset to conform to both the substrate and thelight guide film.
 4. The luminous composite sheet of claim 1, whereinthe light guide film includes an array of deflection elements disposedtherein and located between the top side and the bottom side, thedeflection elements configured to redirect the light that enters thelight guide film through the edge for emitting the light from the topside.
 5. The luminous composite sheet of claim 1, wherein the substratedefines one or more recesses along an edge of the substrate that facestowards the edge of the light guide film, wherein the light sources aremounted within the one or more recesses.
 6. The luminous composite sheetof claim 5, wherein the substrate includes one or more shelves thatextend over the one or more recesses to protect the light sources withinthe one or more recesses from impact forces exerted on at least one ofthe top side of the substrate or the top side of the light guide film.7. The luminous composite sheet of claim 1, wherein the laminate coatingcovers an entirety of the top side of the light guide film.
 8. Theluminous composite sheet of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality ofpressure sensors mounted to the light guide film and spaced apart fromeach other along a length of the light guide film; and a controllercommunicatively connected to the pressure sensors and the light sources,wherein the controller is configured to detect a presence of a body onthe luminous composite sheet responsive to pressure signals generated byat least one of the pressure sensors, and is configured to control thelight sources to illuminate an occupied area of the luminous compositesheet that includes a location of the presence of the body.
 9. Theluminous composite sheet of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the light sources to illuminate the occupied areaby activating a preset number of the light sources on both sides of aspecific light source of the light sources that best aligns with thelocation of the presence of the body.
 10. The luminous composite sheetof claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to track the locationof the presence of the body over time based on the pressure signals todetermine a direction of movement of the body relative to the luminouscomposite sheet, the controller further configured to control the lightsources to illuminate an upcoming area of the luminous composite sheetin front of the occupied area, based on the direction of movement, priorto the body reaching the upcoming area.
 11. A method comprising:providing a light guide film that is at least translucent and has a topside, a bottom side opposite the top side, and an edge extending fromthe top side to the bottom side; positioning a substrate adjacent to theedge of the light guide film, the substrate holding a plurality of lightsources spaced apart along a length of the edge of the light guide filmand configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge;and applying a laminate coating to cover and mechanically contact both atop side of the substrate and the top side of the light guide film toform a luminous composite sheet, wherein the laminate coating is atleast translucent, wherein the light guide film is configured to spreadand redirect the light that is received therein through the edge foremitting the light from the top side of the light guide film through thelaminate coating.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprisingmounting each of the light sources within a different one of multiplerecesses defined along an edge of the substrate that faces the edge ofthe light guide film.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting eachof the light sources comprises positioning the light sources belowshelves of the substrate that extend over the recesses for protectingthe light sources from impact forces exerted on at least one of the topside of the substrate or the top side of the light guide film.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the edge of the light guide film is a firstedge and the light guide film also includes a second edge opposite thefirst edge, a third edge that extends between the first edge and thesecond edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the methodfurther comprising: applying a reflective layer on the bottom side, thesecond edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge of the light guide filmto reflect light that impinges thereon back into an interior of thelight guide film.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein applying thelaminate coating comprises thermosetting the laminate coating to conformto both the substrate and the light guide film.
 16. The method of claim11, wherein applying the laminate coating comprises covering an entiretyof the top side of the light guide film with the laminate coating.
 17. Afloor lighting assembly comprising: a luminous composite sheetcomprising: a light guide film that is at least translucent and has atop side, a bottom side opposite the top side, and an edge extendingfrom the top side to the bottom side; a substrate positioned adjacent tothe edge of the light guide film, the substrate holding a plurality oflight sources spaced apart along a length of the edge of the light guidefilm and configured to emit light into the light guide film through theedge; and a plurality of pressure sensors mounted to the light guidefilm and spaced apart from each other along a length of the light guidefilm, wherein the light guide film is configured to spread and redirectthe light that is received therein through the edge for emitting thelight from the top side of the light guide film; and a controllercommunicatively connected to the pressure sensors and the light sources,wherein the controller is configured to detect a presence of a body onthe luminous composite sheet responsive to pressure signals generated byat least one of the pressure sensors, and is configured to control thelight sources to illuminate an occupied area of the luminous compositesheet that includes a location of the presence of the body.
 18. Thefloor lighting assembly of claim 17, wherein the luminous compositesheet further comprises a laminate coating that is thermoset to coversand conform to both a top side of the substrate and the top side of thelight guide film, wherein the laminate coating is at least translucent.19. The floor lighting assembly of claim 17, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the light sources to illuminate the occupied areaby activating a preset number of the light sources on both sides of aspecific light source of the light sources that best aligns with thelocation of the presence of the body.
 20. The floor lighting assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the controller is configured to track the location ofthe presence of the body over time based on the pressure signals todetermine a direction of movement of the body relative to the luminouscomposite sheet, the controller further configured to control the lightsources to illuminate an upcoming area of the luminous composite sheetin front of the occupied area, based on the direction of movement, priorto the body reaching the upcoming area.